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T O P I C R E V I E W

Robert Pearlman

Carter Center release

Carter Center Auction Offers Rare Air and Space Memorabilia Including "Man on the Moon" Certificate Signed by Apollo 11 Crew

A certificate commemorating the first man on the moon signed by Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, Michael Collins, and Neil Armstrong, is one of several notable air and space items being sold at a public auction on Feb. 7, 2009 to support the work of the not-for-profit Carter Center, advancing peace and health. The items are available in honor of the 40th anniversary of the lunar landing (July 20, 2009).

In addition to these collectibles, more than 100 pieces such as sports memorabilia, art, and presidential artifacts will be sold via live and silent auctions in Port St. Lucie, Fla., during the Carter Center's annual Winter Weekend celebration.

Last year, the highest bid item at the annual fundraiser was a bench of hard maple wood handcrafted by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, which sold for $300,000.

The Carter Center is a not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization founded by the former President and his wife, Rosalynn, in 1982. The Center's programs have helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production.

Air and space memorabilia item descriptions:

Apollo 11 Memorabilia Collection

Signed, historic photographs: To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, two iconic autographed photos are framed together. The first is signed by astronaut Edwin Aldrin and shows him with the U.S. flag on the moon's surface. The second shows a view of the Earth as seen from the surface of the moon and is signed and dated by astronaut Michael Collins, who took the picture. The caption on the photo reads: "The Earthrise is seen by Apollo 11's crew over Smyth's Sea just before Armstrong and Aldrin depart for their historic first manned lunar landing."

Rare signed book by Edwin Aldrin: A leather-bound, gold-leaf copy of "Men from Earth" numbered 668 of 1,500 and containing a certificate of authenticity.

Commemorative, signed certificate: An 11 x 14-inch framed certificate signed by all three members of the Apollo 11 crew, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin. This rare keepsake includes an image of the official Apollo 11 astronaut patch and the slogan "We came in peace for all mankind."

Moon Landing Proclamation

39th U.S. President Jimmy Carter signed a 10 by 13-inch proclamation which contains both the congressional resolution and the presidential proclamation made to honor the 10th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. The framed proclamation is decorated with a black and white sketch of an astronaut in a space suit and a full-color Apollo 11 astronaut patch.

Air Force One Memorabilia

A collage of souveniers collected from Air Force One during President Carter's administration including: a signed photo of President Carter aboard the plane; a photo signed by both President and Mrs. Carter of the two of them with daughter Amy leaving the aircraft; Air Force One notepads, place cards, brochures, menus, matchbooks, a "Music in Flight" list; a gold-colored peanut pin; and a Jimmy Carter-signature lapel pin.

albatron

Does anyone know who's actually handling the auction, where and when?

fabfivefreddy

I noticed that the Armstrong signature was added twice. One looks like the older one must have faded.

According to the Carter Center, details on when, where and how to bid (including via phone, mail and online) will be released next week along with the auction catalog.

ChrisCalle

The sketch of Neil Armstrong on the Jimmy Carter proclamation is actually one of the on-the-spot pen and ink sketches my father Paul Calle did during the Suiting Up of the Apollo XI crew the morning of the launch on July 16, 1969.